The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-03-18
How CLAY Beds May Become Mines Of
Wealth.

ida which must be extremely rich in
aluminium, that wonderful metal which
scientists have lons been striving to
wrest from the nation. Should these
deposits ever be utilized in this manner
| it will be due in measure to the
labors of one Of Florida's citizens, Prof.
VIM. r. Cunning, of Altamonte,
Orange county, who is now engaged
in the experiments referred to in the
following article from the Toledo
blade:
Several months ago the Blade con-
tanned the announcement that met
allurgist of this vicinity had, after years
of study and experiment, succeeded in
inventing process for obtaining alum
inum-the metal which is the base of
all cIays--in metallic form, and prob
ably 30 cheaply that it could at once
compete with iron and steel for all
uses. The article created intense inter.
est in scientific and metallurgicals cir
cles. 1t was widely copied in periodic
ais devoted to the many industries
which would be rcvolutionized by such
discovery, and numbers of letters
of inquiry were received from gentle
men and firms anxious to know more
of this wonderful discovery.
The Blade is now able to declare the
entire success of the experiments, which
have been made on an actual COM
mercial scale, and to make the astound-
ing announcement TO the world that
the entire range of metal industries
will be entirely revo'utionized. The
days of iron and steel are numbered,
and aluminium will be the king of
metals in the future. This statement
appears Incredible but it is neverthe-
less strictly and entirely true. The
facts in the case are herewith given
The invention is that of a metallur-
gist named Seymour, now at Findlay,
Ohio, where the experimental works are
located. 1t will be called the Seymour
process" of obtaining the pure metal
10 furnace but at much lower heat
than that needed for iron. Mr.. Sey-
mour is an American so the honor of
the greatest discovery of modern times
is reserved to our own country. He
is a thorough metallurgist, who has
spent his life in researches which have
led up TO this invention as the result of
twenty-five years of study.
Aluminium is now sold at $40 per
pound, and this is the lowest price it
ever has reached. The process used
required six days. The Seymour pro
cess will turn out pure aluminium from
the crude clay in six h ,urs, at the cost
of less than a dollar pound. More this I;
Alloys can be made from clay and the
ores of other metals in the same time
for instance, in six hours from crude
clay and copper ore, aluminium bronze,
which contains from five to ten per
cent, of aluminium, and is the best
material in the world for cannon,
journal bearings, and a variety Of
other important uses can be obtained
direct.
1t may be of interest to recapitulate
the properties and uses of aluminium.
1t is the most abundant constituent of
the earth's crust. Every bed of clay,
every ledge of slate, is a veritable ore
bed of aluminium for the basis of all
clay is alumina, which is an oxide of
the metal. Aluminium is white metal,
next in luster to silver 1t is only one
third the weight of iron. being lighter
than glass in fact, it is about as heavy,
bulk for bulk, as chalk or pine wood.
Hence a pound of aluminium is much
larger In bulk than pound of iron.
1t is as malleable as gold, more tenac-
ious than iron, and harder than steel,
being next to the diamond in hardness
1t melts at 1900 degrees, at least 600
degrees below the melting point of iron.
1t does not rust in the open air, nor
tarnish by contact with gases, as does
silver. The enumeration of Its prop
critics sounds like fairy tale.
When one is asked to enumerate the
uses to which it can be put the mind is
bewildered at the vast possibilities. 1t
is the ideal metal for railway use. An
aluminium steamship will weigh only
one-third as much as an iron one of
The same size hence she will have only
one third the draft, and can carry at
least double the weight of cargo of
iron vessel. The steamers, built Of this
metal, can increase their speed on ac-
count of their lightness They will be
made of thinner ard lighter plates of
metal have stronger but much lighter
engines ; larger and stronger propell-
er. In fact, with aluminium vessels
and engines of the same material, travel
by water will rival the speed attained
on land. The ocean. will be the high
way of nations, indeed. 1t can lie cast
or worked under the hammer, rolled
into sheets, drawn into reeds or wires
or deposited by gslvanism.
There can never be any monopoly of
the crude ore, for all clays and shales
have from 20 to so per cent, of alumi-
mum. The only task now before the
world is to utilize this vaster possibili-
ties than iron. and will supplant it in
all the arts of life. The age of iron
will be as completely superseded as
has been the stone age of primval of
the immediate future
The clay so far used is an ordinary
quality of kaolin, or white clay, such
as is used for common table ware. II
contains fifty-four per cent. of alumi-
mum, nine per cent. of silica (sand),
traces of iron, and the remainder of in
ert earths. l. can be made Of ordinary
brick clay, but it is cheaper to obtain
kaolin, for the metal is much easier
reduced, and it contains a greater pei
cent. of aluminium. Kaolin is very
abun liant, and Ohio contains sufficient
quantity to supply the world.
The seymour process" has been
patented in all civilized countries. An
Experimental plant was built at Find
lay, using natural gas for fuel, and has
proven the process complete success
both in scientific aud commercial
sense. This establishment is to be en-.
larged to one hundred times its eapaci
ty at once, and as rapidly as the work
ing companies can be organized plants
will be erected elsewhere. The parent
company has been organized in Detroit
with a paid'up capital of S2,5OO,0OO
Sith the Secretary of State of Michi.